Elevator discharge orienting means operated in response to orientation of pins on the elevator



Sept. 13, 196 H. M. DOWD ETAL 3,2 2,508

ELEVATOR DISCHARGE ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTATION OF PINS ON THE ELEVATOR l3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1963 EVE INVENTORS HOWARD M. DOWD ATTORNEYS.

p 13, 1966 H. M. DOWD ETAL 3,272,508

ELEVATOR DISCHARGE ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTATION OF PINS ON THE ELEVATOR Filed June 6, 1965 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 66 66 as i 59 54 6| 44 5| 49 48 6 F 6 8 F; Ext-(Ia W A 1' M 2;

6 O \H/ W /\I 0) 5| -71 ,A J73 INVENTORS 3 HOWARD M. DOWD ROYAL L. BARROWS BY OLIVER A. LANDRY ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1966 H. M. DOWD ETAL 3,272,508

ELEVATOR DISCHARGE ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTATION 0F PINS ON THE ELEVATOR Filed June 6, 1963 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS HOWARD M. DOWD ROYAL L. BARROWS BY OLIVER A. LANDRY ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 13, 1966 H. M. DOWD ETAL 3,272,508

ELEVATOR DISCHARGE ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTATION OF PINS ON THE ELEVATOR Filed June 6, 1963 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS HOWARD M. DOWD ROYAL L. BARROWS BY OLIVER ALANDRY ATTORNEYS Se t. 13, 1966 HM. DOWD ETAL 3, 7 ,50

ELEVATOR DISCHARGE ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTATION OF PINS ON THE ELEVATOR Filed June 6, 1965 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,aes

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INVENTORS HOWARD M. DOWD ROYAL L. BARROWS BY OLIVER A. LANDRY X3224 IM ATTOR N EYS Sept. 13, 1966 H. M. DOWD ETAL 3,272,508

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ATTORN EYS Sept. 13, 196 H. M. DOWD ETAL 3, 2,50

ELEVATOR DISCHARGE ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTATION OF PINS ON THE ELEVATOR Filed June 6, 1963 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS HOWARD M. DOWD ROYAL L. BARROWS BY OLIVER A. LANDRY ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1966 H. M. DOWD ETAL 3,272,508

ELEVATOR DISCHARGE ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTATION OF PINS ON THE ELEVATOR Filed June 6, 1963 13 Sheets-Sheet 111 INVENTORS HOWARD M. oowo FIG. 28 ROYAL L. BARROWS BY OLIVER-A.LANDRY 6m x m ATTOR N EYS Sept. 13, 1966 H DQWD ETAL 3,272,508

E ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTATION OF PINS ON THE ELEVATOR ELEVATOR DI S CHARG l3 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed June 6, 1965 FIG. 29

INVENTORS HOWARD M.DOWD

ROYAL L.BARROWS BY OLIVER A. LANDRY ATTORNEYS Sept. 13. 1966 H. M. DOWD ETAL 3,272,508

ELEVATOR DISCHARGE ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTATION OF PINS ON THE ELEVATOR Filed June 6, 1963 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 97 1b 512 496 1: 1: I" I "T I I 3| R 1 3| 6 467 473 503 509 49 so u 2 465 508 n 483 506 X 472 47| FIGBO 475 476 473 469 468 4sI 477 47| 505 506 488 489 L j :2 46? d 466 FIG. 3|

INVENTORS HOWARD M. DOWD ROYAL L. BARROWS 472 5 BY OLIVER.A.LANDRY 495 4 f'zfu ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,272,508 ELEVATOR DISCHARGE ORIENTING MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ORIENTA- TION 0F PliNS ON THE ELEVATOR Howard M. Dowd, Littleton, Royal L. Barrows, Middleton, and Oliver A. Landry, Revere, Mass; W. Leroy Temple and State Street Bank and Trust Company, executors of said Howard M. Dowd, deceased, said Barrows and said Landry assignors, by mesne assignments, to Otis Elevator Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 6, 1963, Ser. No. 236,015 5 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates to an automatic bowling pinsetting machine. More particularly it relates to an automatic pinsetting machine intended for use with free standing bowling pins, a conventional bowling alley; a machine which has a suificient degree of flexibility and adaptability in its mode of operation to be useful in connection with the European bowling game known as Kegeln (more familiarly known in the United States as German Nine Pins).

This particular patent is restricted to that portion of the total disclosure that relates to a bowling pin elevator provided with means for orienting the bowling pin-s upon their discharge from the elevator, said means being actuated by the passage of the pins sequentially in said elevator.

In a generic sense bowling games have developed trom a common ancestry into two broad groups. One group as illustrated by bocce or bowls involves rolling a weighted ball across a prepared surface toward a target. The object of such games is to make the ball stop as near to the target as possible. Frequently such games are played out of doors on greens or courts.

In the other broad group the target is an arrangement of upstanding clubs or pins, and the object of the game is to cause a weighted ball to knock over as many of the pins as possible. Such games are for the most part played indoors on lanes or alleys. While there is a variety of games in this second group there have developed over the years rather stringent rules and regulations with respect to each such game governing, among other things, the size, shape and weight of the pins, the arrangement of the pins in the target, the size and weight of the ball and the manner in which the game is played and the score tallied.

In any bowling game where the target consists of an arrangement of pins, and the object of the game is to knock over such pins, a major problem has been the restoration of the pins in the target to their .pre-arranged position at the end of each portion of the game, and in some instances where the rules so provide the removal of fallen pins from the alley during the progress of a single portion of the game, usually between the rolling of successive balls. This has required the presence of someone (either one of the players or a person especially employed as a pin boy) at the target end of the alley. Because of the noise of the weighted balls striking the wooden pins, and because of the inherent danger of being struck by a rebounding ball or a flying pin, such work is disagreeable if not dangerous, and as a result it has been increasingly difiicult in recent years to obtain persons willing to act as pin boys. In many instances the ditficulty in obtaining pin boys has interfered with the normal growth of bowling games.

As the result a great deal of effort has been expended in recent years to develop automatic machinery which would replace the pin boy. To be thoroughly useful such machinery known as pinsetting machines, should be compact enough to fit in the space available in a 3,272,508 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 standard alley; should operate quickly and efficiently with a minimum of supervision and maintenance; should handle and reset the pins and balls in strict accordance with the rules of the particular game; and should not interfere with the normal interaction between the ball and the pins during the playing of the game.

Bowling pins normally have an irregular shape and as a result are diflicult to handle. For this reason the early pinsetting machines were of the tethered pin variety wherein the top of each pin was connected by a string to an apparatus arranged directly above the target area. With such a machine the pins are reset merely by pulling on the strings thereby restoring the pin to its upstanding position. Such machines, however, have never really been satisfactory since the string interferes with the free movement of the pin thus interfering with the normal interaction between the balls and the pins and, on occasion, the several strings become entangled and intertwined, thereby interfering with the pin resetting cycle.

In the past decade or so pinsetting machines have been developed and introduced commercially for automatically resetting free standing (as contrasted to tethered) pins in connection with the standard United States bowling games, such as ten pins, candle pins, duck pins and rubber duck pins. Such machines duplicate with remarkable precision the desired activities of a pin boy which they replaced. In general these machines are provided with sweep means for removing the pins from the alley and depositing these pins in the pit normally provided at the rear of the alley; means for separating the pins from the balls; means for elevating the balls and depositing them in the ball-return track normally provided; means for lifting the pins to a position above the end of the alley; means for orienting the pins and distributing them to a reciprocal pinsetting mechanism; means including the reciprocating pinsetting mechanism for placing the pins in the exact desired position on the alley; means including the reciprocating pinsetting mechanism for lifting the still standing pins after a ball has been bowled to permit the fallen pins (the deadwood) to be swept into the pit when the rules so require, and control means for causing the machine to operate upon detecting the passage of a ball or upon command of the bowler.

Contrary to the experience in connection with the standard United States bowling games no automatic pinsetting machines, other than those of the tethered pin variety have to date been developed for use in connection with the popular European bowling game of Kegeln (German Nine Pins). The reason for this appears to lie in the fact that the nine pin game involves two different sizes of pins simultaneously, king size and common pins, and that over the years a variety of different games have developed using the same basic target and balls, but with various arrangements of pins in the target and various modes of play. Thus an automatic pinsetting machine designed for resetting free standing pins for German ninepin bowling must of necessity be a much more flexible, much more adaptable machine than one designed for use with any of the standard United States bowling games.

In German nine pin bowling according to the regulations established by the German Bowling Association (Deutscher Kegler Bund) the target is of a diamond shape with eight common pins arranged in the form of a square having two opposing corners paralled with the longitudinal axis of the alley on the center line thereof. A common pin is located on each of the corners of the square and at the mid-point of each side. A king pin is located at the center of the square. Thus the layer of pins in the target is symmetrical and the pins as viewed by the bowler are arranged in five equally spaced parallel rows with three pins including the king pin arranged along the center line of the alley, a row of two pins on each side of the center row, and a row consisting of one pin each on the outside at each side.

The pins are turned from hard wood with the common pin having a height above the base of 40 cm., a maximum diameter of 10 cm. with a generally barrel-shaped lower section and a necked in upper section. More specifically the diameter of the pin at the base is 6.5 cm. and the thickness of the pin increases on a smooth curve above the base until at a point cm. above the base the diameter is cm. The 10 cm. diameter continues to a point 16 cm. above the base at which point the pin is necked in to a minimum diameter of 5 cm. at a point 26.5 cm. above the base. Above this point the pin widens out again terminating in a semi-hemispherical cap having a diameter 8.6 cm. with the top of the pin located as stated above at a point 40 cm. above the base. The king pin is identical with the common pin except that its semihemispherical cap is further provided with an upstanding arm having a minimum diameter of 3 cm. and a height of 40 cm. above the base, a maximum diameter of 4.5 cm. at 41.5 cm. and a flat top at 43 cm. above the base.

Pins of both varieties are provided with a ball having a diameter of 17.5 mm. which protrudes from the bottom of the base at the center line of the pin for a distance of 6 mm. This ball fits into a corresponding socket provided in the alley floor at the exact position prescribed for the desired array. This ball which protrudes from the base serves two functions to ensure that the pin is exactly located in the array and to prevent the pin from sliding out of position. The distance that the inset ball protrudes is such that the pin is substantially out of balance unless that ball is located in a corresponding socket.

The ordinary bowling ball used for German nine pin bowling has a substantially larger diameter than the maximum diameter of the pin being about 19 cm. in diameter as compared to 10 cm. For comparison it is somewhat larger than the small balls used for such United States games as candle pins, but are substantially smaller than a full size ten pin ball.

A major distinction between the United States bowling game and the German nine pin game is that a number of different games with a different mode of play have been developed all of which can be played on a single alley without changing the pins or the balls in the German nine pin game. To win the approval of the Deutscher Kegler Bund an automatic pinsetting machine must have the capability of setting pins automatically for at least five of these games as follows:

V0ll-in this game a complete set of nine pins is reset after each roll of the ball.

Wz'ederholen Spickin this game any combination of any numbers of the nine pins may be selected. The preselected combination of pins are reset after each roll of the ball until such time as a new selection is desired.

Handspick-in this game any combination of any number of the nine pins may be selected. The ball may be rolled as often as desired and the fallen pins (the deadwood) are removed after each roll of the ball. The pins are reset at the bowlers request, and upon being reset the bowler may again select any combination of pins.

Abraemenin this game a full array of nine pins are used and the ball is rolled as often as necessary to fell all of the pins. The deadwood is removed after each roll of the ball and the entire array is replaced after the last pin is felled.

Autom-spick-this game is the same as Abraemen except that the full array is replaced not only when the last pin is felled but also when all of the pins other than the king pin have been felled.

It should be noted that in the pin selection games (Wiederholen Spiek and Handspick) while a free choice of pins must be allowed for, the location of the pins is never changed. Thus a king pin is never placed in the position normally occupied by a common pin but rather is always placed when called for in the king pin position in the center of the array. It is also to be noted that in the normal selections a plurality of pins, usually three or more, are used.

We have developed an automatic bowling pinsetting machine of the general type described above which has sufficient latitude and flexibility to permit this machine to be used with German nine pin bowling in accordance with the requirements set forth by the Deutscher Kegler Bund. It will be understood of course that even though this machine is described in terms of the requirements of the specific German Nine Pin game the improved pinsetting machine and many of the components thereof may be used in conjunction with other bowling games including, but not limited, to the four standard United States games merely by adjusting the size and shape of the various elements to accommodate the different pins and balls and the different arrays and numbers of pins.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation partially in section and partially in phantom showing the entire automatic pinsetting machine assembly.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pit and turntable assembly showing in cross section the pin and ball elevators.

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation showing the drive mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the pin elevator.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the pin elevator.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the pin orienting assembly.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 6 along line 77.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the king pin separator assembly.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the right hand separator unit of the assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the unit of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are each side elevations of the king pin conveyor assembly showing the drive mechanism therefor at different stages of the pinsetting machines operating cycle.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the common pin distributor unit.

FIG. 15 is a side view partially in section showing a common pin holder and the pin release mechanism attached thereto.

FIG. 16 is a side view partially in section showing the pin release mechanism actuating mechanism.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the index drive mechanism.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the index drive mechanism.

FIG. 19 is a top view showing in detail the means for actuating the drive clutch of the index drive mechanism when a pin is inserted in a common pin holder.

FIG. 20 is a detailed side elevation of the drive clutchtimer clutch assembly of the index drive mechanism.

FIGS. 21-24 are each a top view of the drive clutchtimer clutch assembly and the associated cams and cam followers during the various portions of the cycle of operation of the common pin distributor.

FIGS. 25-28 are each a perspective view of the drive clutchtimer clutch assembly generally corresponding to FIGS. 21-24.

FIG. 29 is a plan view of the pin storage section dump plate.

FIG. 30 is a plan view partially in section of the pinsetter assembly.

FIG. 31 is an elevation in section of line 31-31 of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is an elevational section along line 3232 of FIG. 30.

The overall machine is shown schematically in FIG. 1 in which the bowling alley is indicated at A, the conventional pit area at the rear of the alley at B, and the wall conventionally located at the edge of the alley alongside the pit and target area at C. The machine generally consists of a sweep mechanism D, a rotating pin and ball separator or turntable E, a ball elevator F, a pin elevator G, a king pin conveyor H, a common pin conveyor I, a common pin distributor J, a pin storage rack K, a reciprocating pinsetting mechanism L, and a sweep and pinsetting mechanism drive means M. The switches and relays for controlling the apparatus are contained in the box indicated at N. The pins are indicated at Fe for common pins and at Pk for king pins. The turntable E and the elevators F and G are designed to fit into a conventional pit B and the remainder of the pinsetting mechanism is designed to rest on the top of the pair of conventional pit walls C.

GENERAL OPERATION The machine is designed so that each operational function is carried out more or less independently of each other. Sweep mechanism D and the pinsetting mechanism L operate together in the manner described in detail in Dowd and Barrows Patent No. 3,063,716, issued November 13, 1962. This portion of the mechanism is actuated by the passage of a ball down the alley by means of a ball detecting switch (not shown). This switch preferably comprises a photoelectric cell and a corresponding light source arranged on opposite sides of the alley at a height whereby the light beam is broken by the passage of a ball and about one and one-half feet in front of the front pin. Alternatively the ball detector switch may comprise an inertia switch mounted on the padded bumper which is normally pivotally mounted above pit B beyond the end of alley A for the purpose of deflecting flying balls and pins into the pit. In this latter instance the switch is actuated by the sudden movement of the padded bumper.

Sweep D and pinsetting mechanism L have two alternate sequences or cycles, a setting cycle and a deadwood cycle. In the setting cycle the sweep D moves downwardly and rearwardly as soon as its drive mechanism is actuated by the ball detector switch, to the level of the alley and then moves along the level of the alley to the pit pushing any pins that may be located, whether fallen or standing, in the target area into the pit. As soon as sweep D reaches the pit it reverses its direction and returns to a position still next to the alley just in front of the pinsetting mechanism where it stops and acts as a ball guard to prevent the pinsetting mechanism L, the pie, from being damaged if a ball is rolled While pie L is depressed.

As soon as sweep D is out of the way pie L which has been loaded with the desired number of pins is lowered a full stroke to the vicinity of the alley floor and the pins are released onto the alley floor. As soon as the pins are released pie L is retracted and sweep D is returned to its initial position above and in front of the target area.

In the deadwood cycle when the ball detector switch is actuated sweep D moves downwardly and backwardly to the ball guard position next to the alley floor in front of pie L. Pie L is depressed a partial stroke with the pin receiving sockets in an open position until the sockets surround the neck of the pins. The sockets are then closed and the pie L is retracted lifting the standing ins up away from the alley floor. As soon as the standing pins have been lifted above the alley floor sweep D con tinues its movement toward the pit sweeping the fallen pins into the pit and returns to the ball guard position where it again stops. As soon as sweep D stops again pie L is depressed the same part stroke where the base of the pins contained therein contact the alley releases the retained pins and thereafter pie L and sweep D both return to their initial position.

As set forth in our Patent No. 3,063,713 mentioned above common control means M is so arranged that sweep D and pie L can be driven through either the resetting cycle or the deadwood cycle interchangeably in any sequence, the selection of the cycle being possible until the actual start of the cycle. Since none of the regular German games is played with deadwood (fallen pins) on the alley one cycle or the other is initiated every time the ball detector switch is actuated. In addition to other controls the bowlers position is provided with a pin setting switch which switch will initiate the setting cycle at the bowl-ers command.

The floor of the pit B is provided with a constantly rotating turntable E which, in connection with bafiies overlying turntable E, separate the pins from the balls and direct the pins to pin elevator G and the balls to ball elevator F. Both turntable E and ball elevator F move continuously and ball elevator F lifts the balls from the floor of the pit B and dumps them one by one into the conventional ball return track (not shown) for return by gravity to the bowlers position.

Pins Fe and Pk are lifted one by one by pin elevator G past a king pin separator which deflects the king pins Pk from the elevator. Upon being separated from the elevator pins Pk fall through a pin orienter onto king pin conveyor II. Common pins Pc pass through the king pin separator to the top of pin elevator G where they are deflected from elevator G through a pin orienter onto common pin conveyor I. In both instances the pin orienter causes the pin to fall base first onto the pin conveyor so that the pin travels along the conveyor base first.

King pin conveyor H carries successive king pins Pk directly to the king pin position in the pin storage rack K. King pin conveyor H is provided with a feed section and a delivery section and appropriate drive means are provided to feed successive king pins Pk one by one into the storage rack K when such a pin is needed, and to stop the conveyors and especially the delivery portion when the king pin position in rack K contains a king pin or when the king pin is not required in the particular game. The feed section of conveyor H is driven from pin elevator G and the delivery section from sweep mechanism D.

Common pin conveyor I delivers common pins Pc one by one to rotary common pin distributor I where the pins are deposited upright in separate common pin receiving pockets. The drive of the pin distributor I is so arranged that the pin distributor advances one pocket each time a pin is fed into a pocket or when the pocket coming under the end of conveyor I already contains a pin. Conveyor I is driven by elevator G and switches activated by distributor I are provided to stop both elevator G and conveyor I when additional pins are not required by distributor I.

Pins P are transferred by gravity from distributor I into storage rack K and from storage rack K onto pinsetting mechanism L. Alternate means are provided whereby pins may be released from distributor I into rack K one by one or as a unit depending on whether the selective bowling game has been selected or not. Interlock means are provided to prevent the pins from being released from distributor J into storage rack K until storage rack K is empty ready to receive the pins. Other interlock means are provided to prevent the discharge of pins P from storage rack K onto pinsetting mechanism L until pinsetting mechanism L is in its pin receiving position, is empty of pins, and the sweep and pinsetting control means M calls for the next cycle to be a pinsetting cycle.

As can be seen from this brief description of the general operation of the machine, and from the detailed description of the component parts which follows, the bowling pinsetting machine of the present: invention obtains an extreme degree of flexibility of operation primarily by simplifying the component parts. In general each portion of the machine is designed to perform a single function and to perform that function with a high degree of precision and dependability. Each portion carries out its own function automatically and independently of any other portion of the machine controlled primarily by the presence or absence of a pin or ball in a certain control position at a certain time. At the same time the machine has the inherent capability of an almost unlimited number of sequences of operation. Five are normally provided to correspond to the five standard games as established by the German Bowling Association. While the operation of the machine is entirely automatic the bowler does have a choice of games (ie of sequence of operation of the machine) the option to select any pin or any combination of pins in bowling games calling for pin selection and means to reset the machine by running it through a cycle if desired.

Turntable E As shown in FIG. 2 the floor of pit B is replaced by a turntable 41. Turntable 41 is circular in shape, oriented generally horizontally, but with an outward downward slope toward the edges from a crown at the center and is mounted at its center on a vertical shaft. A circular friction surface, such as a piece of carpeting, indicated at 42 is mounted on the surface of turntable 41 preferably off center as shown. The diameter of turntable 41 is as large as may be conveniently located in the standard pit B and is surrounded by a stationary masking structure 43 which extends to the wall 44 of pit B. Masking structure 43 in each portion slopes from wall 44 towards turntable 41 sufliciently that pins or balls falling onto mask 43 will tend to roll towards turntable 41. Ramps 45 and 46 are provided at the corners of pin B adjacent alley A with a sharper slope toward turntable 41, than the slope of mask 43 to prevent pins from jamming into these corners. A similar ramp 47 is provided along the side wall 44 adjacent pin elevator G for the same purpose. Pin elevator G is mounted in one rear corner of pit B and wall elevator F in the other.

Turntable 41 is rotated continuously by a drive which consists of motor 48, drive belt 49, pulleys 51 and 52 mounted on a vertical shaft 53, second drive belt 54, pulley 55, mounted on vertical shaft 56 which in turn through a pulley (not shown) drives belt 57 which drives pulley 58 mounted on the mounting shaft for turntable 41. The drive for ball elevator F is taken from a second pulley 59 mounted on the top end of shaft 56 by means of belt 61 which passes around pulleys 62 and 63 and passes around a pulley mounted at the top end of ball elevator F. It will be noted that the several pulley combinations all serve as speed reducers in order to keep the rotation of turntable 41 and the greater advance of ball elevator F at a reasonably low rate. As mentioned above, motor 48 in normal operation is powered continuously while the machine is in operation. A separate cut-off switch is provided if, for any reason it is desired to stop turntable 41 or elevator F.

Both pin elevator G and ball elevator F comprise a parallel pair of chain belts which run vertically over two pairs of horizontally separated sprockets, one such pair being located below the level of turntable 41 in each case, the other at the top of the respective elevator. The parallel chains are connected at intervals by horizontal rods. The chain belts and rods of ball elevator F are indicated at 64 and 65 respectively, and of the pin elevator G at 66 and 67 respectively. The lateral distance between chains 64 of ball elevator F is slightly greater than the diameter of the ball, and the lateral distance between chains 6 of elevator G is slightly greater than the over-all height of the king pins. Both elevators are run so that the cross rods 65 and 67 move upward in the front and downward in the rear. The front and rear are separated by vertical walls indicated at 68 in the case of ball elevator F, and indicated at 69 in the case of pin elevator G, located sufficiently behind the plane of upward movement of cross bar 65 in the case of ball elevator F, and cross bar 67 in the case of pin elevator G, that the center of gravity of a ball or of a pin as the case may be is just slightly behind the respective cross bar toward the aforesaid vertical wall. Tapered internal vertical guides 71 and 72 are further provided for ball elevator F at the sides between the plane of cross rods 65 and rear wall 68 to steady the ball in its upward movement on the elevator. Exterior guides '73 and 74 for elevator F, and 75 and 76 for elevator G are provided outside of both sides of the upward side of both elevators with slots to receive the conveyor chains, and to maintain the respective chains at a fixed clearance from the rear Wall.

Separation of the balls and the pins is facilitated by the fact that the ball (indicated at 77) has a substantially greater diameter than the diameter of the pins. A transverse bafile 78 is provided across turntable 41 above and behind the center thereof. The clearance between turntable 41 and the bottom of baffle 78 is at all places sufficient to clear a pin lying on its side on the turntable. The clearance, however, is insufficient to clear a ball except on the left hand side (turntable 41 as shown rotates clockwise) so that a ball once it passes into the rear section is trapped and cannot pass out. A supplemental baffle 79 is provided in front of the entrance to the pin elevator G, and has an insufiioient clearance to pass a ball. This prevents the ball from jamming the entrance to the pin elevator. A second supplementary bathe 81 is provided on the rear of baffle 78 near the center of the right side to deflect ball 77 towards the entrance 82 to ball elevator F. Entrance 82 to ball elevator F comprises two elements located slightly above the plane of turntable 41 separated by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of ball '77. Inner element 83 extends out over turntable 41 and acts to deflect pins away from the entrance. Outer element 84 extends to a point adjacent the periphery of turntable 41 at the rear of bafile 78. The floor of entrance 82 slopes toward elevator P so that once a ball 77 passes into the entrance it will roll into elevator F. Thus a ball landing in the pit will roll on turntable 4 1, will be carried toward the rear, will be deflected toward the center by the inner portion 83 of entrance 32, will be deflected by battle 81 toward entrance 82, and when it enters entrance 8?. will roll down into ball elevator F and will be carried by the next cross bar 65 to top of elevator F where it is pushed off onto a chute leading to the conventional ball return rail. All that is necessary to remove the ball from the elevator is to provide a sloping forward extension of rear wall 68 which extends sufiiciently forward of the plane of the rear wall to cause the center of gravity of the ball to lie in front of cross bar 65.

In the mean-time the pins P0 and Pk landing at pit B land on a roll to turntable 41 where they are carried around and around beneath the bafi le. Because of the tilt of turntable 41 the pins tend to roll toward the edge. The inner portion 83 of ball entrance S2 acts as a pin selector pushing the pins toward the center of the turntable 41 thereby re-orienting the pins continuously. As the pins go around and around and are re-oriented they eventually, one by one, orient themselves so that the leading end (top or bottom) of successive pins lies at the periphery of turntable 41 along a tangent thereto in a position to enter entrance 185 of pin feed 86. Once one end of the pin enters entrance 85 it is pushed into pin feed 86 by contact with a friction surface 42. Pin feed 86 which is separated from turntable 41 by wall 87 has a floor that slopes toward pin elevator G and is generally parallel to the cross bars thereof. The floor of pin feed 86 lies a. substantial distance below the level of turntable 41. The width is substantially the same as the Width of the cross bar. Such pin once it is pushed through entrance 85 slides onto the floor of feed 86 where it necessarily (because the pin feed chamber 86 is too narrow for the pin to orient itself otherwise to any substantial degree) lies substantially parallel to the cross bar 67 of elevator G. Since the floor of feed 86 slopes toward elevator G the pin tends to roll toward elevator G. The next cross bar 67 comes up beneath the pin next adjacent the elevator and tends to pick up this pin. If the center of the gravity of the pin is between the plane of bar 67 and wall 69 the pin will stay on the elevator and will reorient itself (if necessary) so that its axis is parallel laterally to both the plane of bars 67 and of wall 69. If it so happens that the particular pin is sufficiently cocked that its center of gravity is outside of the plane of cross bar 67 that pin will fall off the elevator and back into pin feed 86.

Pin elevator G FIGURES 4 and present a front and side elevation of pin elevator G. Chain guides 75 and 76 are mounted on the face of side walls 91 and 92 of elevator G respectively, and rear wall 69 is mounted between two side walls between the upward and downward flights of conveyor chains 66, 66. Chain 66, 66 pass between a pair of sprockets mounted on roller 93 rotatably mounted at the base of conveyor G between side walls 91 and 92 and a pair of sprockets mounted on drive shaft 94 which in turn is rotatably mounted between the side walls 91 and 92 at the top of the conveyor. A pair of adjustable sprockets 95 and fixed sprockets 96 are provided at the top rear of elevator G to adjust tension of chains 66.

Elevator G is driven by motor 97 which is connected by drive chain 98 to reduction gear 99 which in turn is connected by drive chain 101 to drive sprocket 102 mounted on drive shaft 94. An idle sprocket 103 is provided to adjust the tension of drive chain 101. Motor 97 and reduction gear 99 are mounted on bracket 104 which is mounted to the outside of side wall 92 near its upper end.

Means are provided associated with pin elevator G for detecting and removing the king pins Pk from the elevator, for orienting the king pins and delivering the oriented pins to king pin conveyor H. Means are also provided for removing the common pins Pc from elevator G for orienting the common pins and delivering the oriented pins to common pins conveyor I. Since the king pins are transferred to pin storage rack K, and the common pins are transferred first to common pin distributor J, from which they are released and fall into storage rack K, the king pin separating and orienting means are at an appropriate lower level relative to pin elevator G than the common pin separating and orienting means. Since only common pins pass through the king pin separating means all of the pins reaching the topmost level of pin elevator G are common pins. These can be removed from elevator G merely by providing rear wall 69 with a forwardly extending extension 105 located at an appropriate place on rear wall 69 and extending forward from the plane of rear wall 69 suificiently to force the center of gravity of common pins Pc from the normal location vertically above a position between the plane of rear wall 69 and of cross rods 67 to a location vertically above a position forward of cross rods 67. As soon as the center of gravity passes in front of the plane of cross rods 67 the pin falls forward out of the elevator. Elevator G and associated means are so arranged that when this happens the pin falls through the pin orienting means indicated generally at 106 onto tapered sloping pin slide 107 and down slide 107 to the common pin conveyor 1. Pin orienting means 106 and pin slide 107 are both mounted on brackets indicated generally 103 mounted on the side walls 91 and 92 of elevator G in a position forward of the moving portion of elevator G.

Pin orientor 106 It will be recognized that pin feed 86 merely acts to line the pins P up along an axis generally parallel to the cross rods 67 of elevator G, and that no means are provided to control the orientation of the pins on the elevator. Thus the pins lie on the elevator in random orientation, some with their head toward the right, some with their base toward the right. It is necessary however that all of the common pins Pc be fed to common pin distributor I in a base down condition. This means that the pins Pc must lie on conveyor I in a base forward position. A means indicated generally at 106 for orienting the randomly oriented pins is provided between the point where the pins are discharged from elevator G and slide 107.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7 pin orienting means 106 includes a transverse bracket 109 which is fastened horizontally between side walls 91 and 92 in pin elevator G, and passes across the front of elevator G with sufiicient clearance therefrom to permit pins to pass up the elevator freely. Two deflector pin pieces 111 and 112 each comprising an upwardly extending pin portion 113 and 114 and a base portion 115 and 116 respectively are pivotally mounted on the outer surface of bracket 109 and 117 and 118 respectively. Pin portions 113 and 114 extend well above the top of bracket 109 and, as shown in FIG. 7, are bent out at a substantial angle in a direction away from the conveyor. Pin pieces 111 and 112 are connected by a connecting rod 119 pivotally mounted at one end to base portion 115 as indicated at 121, and at the other end as indicated at 122 to base portion 116, thereby causing the two deflected pin pieces 111 and 112 to reciprocate in unison. The length of connecting rod 119 is adjustable by means indicated at 123 and 124 and is so adjusted that when one deflector pin is vertically oriented the other is oriented outwardly. Pin pieces 111 and 112 are located on bracket 109 in such manner that when oriented vertically pin portions 113 or 114 will be in line with the neck portion of the bowling pin at a point slightly below the knob of the top of the bowling pin, and the length of connecting rod 119 is adjusted such that when one of the pin portions 113 or 114 is oriented vertically the other pin portion 113 or 114 will clear the base of the pin. Bracket 109 is so located on conveyor G that if pins are discharged from the conveyor they will fall past and through the upwardly extending pin portion in such manner that either pin portion 113 or 114 will contact the bowling pin. A stop 125 and 126 respectively is provided at the lower outer corner of base portions 115 and 116. Stops 125 and 126 cooperate with the lower portion of bracket 109 and prevents pin pieces 111 and 112 from pivoting inwardly beyond the aforesaid vertical position. Thus the left and right deflector pin pieces 111 and 112 operate in unison and reciprocate as a unit over a limited path of travel between a position where one or the other is in the path of the upper end of a bowling pin, and where the one which is not in such a position is so located as to permit the base of the bowling pin to pass without interference.

Means for positioning deflector pins 111 and 112 are shown generally at 127. Actuating means 127 includes a bracket 128 mounted on and depending from bracket 109, and a cross rod 129 mounted transversely on the bottom of bracket 128 and extending below and parallel to bracket 109. At each end of rod 129 there is pivotally mounted pin sensing means 131 and 132 respectively.

Each of pin sensing means 131 and 132 comprises a collar 133 and 134 respectively mounted over rod 129, a crank rod 135 or 136 extending inwardly from one end and a second crank arm 137 or 138 extending inwardly from the other end. A connecting rod 139 is pivotally connected at 141 to crank arm 131 and at 142 to the inner lower quadrant of base portion 111. A similar connecting rod 143 is pivotally connected at 144' to crank arm 132 and at 145 to the inner lower quadrant of base portion 112. Adjusting means 146, 147 are provided to adjust the length of connecting rods 139 and 143 respectively. A wheel 148 is rotatably mounted at the end of crank 137 and a wheel 149 is rotatably mounted at the end of crank 138 on axles 151 and 152 respectively.

As pointed out above, and as shown in FIG. 4, the pins are carried up pin elevator G in a generally horizontal position while resting on cross rods 67 with the top of the pin pointed either to the left or to the right (as shown). Wheels 148 and 149 are both so positioned laterally that each will coincide with the path of travel of the thinnest portion of the neck of the pins when the pin is oriented with its head to the left (wheel 148) or to the right (wheel 149). The geometry of the pins is such that when one of wheels 148 or 149, coincides with the path of travel of the thinnest portion of the neck of the pin the other of wheels 148 or 149 will coincide with a portion of the body of the pin. The various parts of pin orienting mechanism 106 are so related to conveyor G and to each other that when the body portion of a pin passing upward on the elevator contacts one of wheels 148 or 149 it will raise that wheel a suflicient distance along its path of travel to cause the corresponding deflector pin piece 111 or 112 to swing to its outermost position, and the other of pin pieces 111 or 112 to assume its vertical position with stop 125 or 126 as the case may be in contact with bracket 109. Thus no matter which way the pin is oriented on the elevator G the passage of the pin up the elevator will erect the appropriate deflector pin 113 or 114 so that as the pin is pushed out of the elevator by forward extension 105 of rear wall 69 the neck of the pin at a point just below the base of the head portion of the pin will come into contact with either deflector pin 113 or deflector pin 114 while the base of the pin will clear the other or pins 113 or 114. This forces the pin to enter slide 107 with its base down. As soon as the pin swings around and as it slides down slide 107 the upper portion of the pin slips out of contact with the erected deflector pin.

Slide 107 is bent at such an angle that the pins will slide down the slide readily. It is provided with upstanding side walls 153 and 154 of sufficient height to prevent the pins from jumping out. The upper end of the slide 107 is in such position as to receive the pin as it falls out of the pin elevator, and the lower end is in such position :as to dump the pin directly onto pin conveyor I. The upper or receiving portion of slide 107 is wide enough to receive a pin oriented horizontally. The width of the slide decreases towards its lower end so that the bottom or exit portion is narrow enough that it will not pass a pin unless the pin is generally oriented in an up and down direction relative to the slide. As explained above, the action of pin orientor 106 causes the pins to enter slide 107 with their base first so that it is the base of the pin that comes into contact with conveyor I first, and the pin therefore is necessarily carried up conveyor I with its base forward. Since, as will be explained later, a common drive is provided for elevator G and conveyor I no more than one pin at a time can be delivered to conveyor I. The pins, therefore, proceed up conveyor I in a single file base first.

The primary advantages of elevator G and pin orientor 106 lie in the fact that both are simple, direct and foolproof. There is no possibility that they can jam, that the parts can become bent, or the like. The elevator accepts pins one at a time but only if the pin is oriented parallel to cross rods 67. If a second pin tries to rise in a single position, or if the pin is not properly oriented, the second pin or the improperly oriented pin, falls out of the elevator. As the pin rides up elevator G past Wheels 148 or 149 of pin orientor 106 the pin either clears these Wheels or it doesnt. If it does not the upward motion of the pin pushes one wheel up and out of the way and this motion of that wheel erects the proper orienting pin and the linkage of orientor 106 forces the other wheel to the lower or intercepting position. The pin is forced out of the elevator merely by being urged into an unbalanced condition, and in falling necessarily passes through the upstanding portion of pin orientor 106. Under such circumstances the base is free to fall and the top is delayed. Even while the top is delayed the base falls right onto 12 slide 107 and the pin slides through slide 107 base first onto conveyor I solely under the force of gravity.

An identical pin orienting mechanism 155 and a similar slide 156 is provided at an appropriate lower level of elevator G for the purpose of orienting king pins Plc and delivering such king pins base first to king pin conveyor H. Pin orienting mechanism 155 and slide 156 are supported by bracket 157 which is mounted on the side walls 91 and 92 of elevator G.

King pin detector and deflector 158 As mentioned above, :means are provided for detecting and removing king pins Pk from elevator G. These means which are indicated generally at 158 and consist of a pair of elements 159 and 160 inset into guides 75 and 76 of elevator G between rear wall 69 and the paths of conveyor drive chains 66 are shown in detail in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.

Each element 159 and 160 consists of a king pin detector plate 162 and a king pin deflector plate 163 mounted in a common housing 164. Housing 164 is generally U- shaped with a rear wall portion 165, a side wall portion 166, and a front wall portion 167. Rear wall portion 165 is adapted to be mounted in rear wall 69, front wall portion 167 extends inwardly for a sutficient distance as to serve as a continuation of guide 75 or 76 as the case may be.

King pin detector plate 162 is pivotally mounted at its bottom end on support shaft 168 which in turn is mounted between front wall 167 and rear Wall 165 near the lower end of element 158 or 159 in such manner that the free end of plate 162 is free to move toward and away from side wall 166. King pin deflector plate 163 is similarly mounted on support shaft 169 which is mounted between front wall 167 and rear wall 165 of element 158 or 159 near its upper end. Detector plate 162 is connected to deflector plate 163 by a linkage which includes bracket 171 mounted on the rear of plate 162, a shaft 172 pivotally mounted on bracket 173 which in turn is mounted on the inner side of side wall 166, bracket 174 mounted on the rear of plate 163, swinging link 175 which joins bracket 171 with one end of shaft 172 and swinging link 176 which joins the other end of shaft 172 with bracket 174. A compression spring 177 of substantial strength mounted between the rear of plate 162 and the inner portion of side wall 166 tends to normally urge plate 162 away from side wall 166. The action of the linkage is such that if plate 162 is pushed toward side wall 166, plate 163 is forced outwardly from side wall 166. By locating bracket 173 in an appropriate position relative to the ends of shaft 172 the magnitude of the relative motion of the two plates can be suitably regulated. For example, as shown, bracket 173 is closer to the bottom end of shaft 172 than it is to the upper end, thus magnifying the response of plate 162 to any motion of plate 163.

The free end of the king pin deflector plate 163 is formed on a taper with the intersection between the free edge and the rear side in an acute angle. An abutting portion 178 depending inwardly from the free edge is provided and acts as a contacting surface against the pins when deflector pin 163 is extended. The free edge of detector plate 162 is also tapered, but with an acute angle at the intersection between the free edge of the front side so that there is no interference between the two plates and the king pin will remain in contact with the detector plate 162 until the pin has been removed from the conveyor.

A stop is provided conveniently by having bracket 174 contact shaft 172 so that in the normal position deflector plate 163 is oriented parallel to side wall 166. Detector plate 162 is so shaped and the linkage is so arranged that its free end is parallel to, and in the same plane as deflector plate 163, when the deflector plate is in its normal position. The lower portion of detector plate 162 (that portion adjacent pivot 168) slopes towards the side wall 13 166 with its lower or pivot edge within the limits of front wall 167.

The elements 159 and 160 of king pin separator 158 are dimensioned and located as follows: The outer edge of front wall 167 is in the same vertical plane as the outer edge of front Wall 167 is in the same vertical plane as the outer edge of guides 75 and 76 and serves as a continuation thereof. Guides 75 and 76 are separated by a distance substantially equal to the overall length of a king pin Pk. The plane of deflector plate 163 and of the free end of detector plate 162 is parallel to the plane of the inner edges of guides 75 and 76, but the horizontal distance between these elements in the normal position is substantially equal to the overall length of a common pin Pc. 1 When a common pin Pc passes up the conveyor it will contact sloped surface of detector plate 162 of either element 159 or 160 (unless it is perfectly centered in the conveyor) and will be pushed laterally until it becomes centered in the conveyor G at which point it will pass right through king pin separator 158. Thus king pin separator 158 serves as a centering device for common pins Pc assuring that they will be in the proper position laterally for contact with pin orienting means 106.

When a king pin Pk comes up the elevator G it will, since its length is substantially equal to the distance between the inner edge of front wall 167 of both elements 159 and 160, press against the sloping lower portions of detector plate 162, forcing that plate on both elements toward side wall 166 against the pressure of spring 177 then will, through the linkage including shaft 172, force deflect-or plate 163 into its extended position. The king pin Pk will then contact the side of abutment 178 which depends from deflector plate 163 on both elements and will be forced forward relative to elevator G to the extent that its center of gravity is forward of the horizontal cross rod 67 supporting it. As soon as this happens king pin Pk will fall out of the elevator through king pin orienting means 155 onto king pin slide 156, and then in a base down orientation due to the action of king pin orienting mechanism 155 onto king pin conveyor H. The relative positions of the various parts of king pin detector and separator 158 as the king pin Pk is passing through is shown in FIG. 8.

Common pin conveyor I Common pin conveyor I (see FIGS. 1, 4 and comprises a conveyor belt 181 preferably a rubber belt with upstanding transverse ribs provided with a surface thereof, which passes around rollers 182 and 183. Belt 181 is of a suitable width to carry common pins P0 with the axis of the common pins parallel to the path of travel of the belt and is provided with side rails 184 and 185 to prevent the pins from falling off. Suitable framing and support means indicated at 186 and 190 are provided. Conveyor I extends between a position below the delivery end of common pin slide 107 and curved delivery slide 187, positioned to cooperate with common pin distributor J, and to deliver common pins to the pin receiving holders 283 provided thereon.

Common pin conveyor I is driven from a pulley 188 provided on the outward shaft of reduction gear 99, by means of transmission belt 189 which passes over a pair of idler pulleys 191, 192 mounted on a bracket 193 which is supported on framing member 190 and around a pulley provided on the shaft supporting roller 182. Since pin elevator G and pin conveyor 1 have a common drive both operate simultaneously.

King pin conveyor H A similar conveyor H is provided to transport king pins Pk from the delivery end of king pin slide 156 to curved delivery slide 194 positioned to deposit king pins Pk in the king pin position of pin storage rack K. King pin conveyor H consists of two segments, a feed or first section 195, and a delivery or second section 196 which are driven separately. Both sections comprise a conveyor belt 197, 198 respectively which preferably is a transversely ribbed rubber belt. Each said belt passes around a pair of pulleys which are indicated at 201, 202, 203 and 204. Both sections of the conveyor are supported in a frame indicated by brace 205 and framing member 206. Continuous side rails 207 and 208 supported on framing member 206 are provided to prevent the pins from falling from the conveyor.

The first section 195 of conveyor H is driven from conveyor I by means of a pulley 209 affixed to the shaft supporting roller 182. A drive belt 211 and a pulley 212 are fixed to the drive shaft 210 supporting roller 201. The second section 196 of conveyor H is driven from the drive for pin sweep mechanism D which is indicated in FIG. 1 by motor 213 by means of a drive belt 214 passing around a pulley provided on drive shaft 215 of pin sweep mechanism D and pulley 216 fastened to the drive shaft 217 of roller 203 (see FIG. 1). I

The drive control mechanism for king pin conveyor H is shown in detail in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. The principal elements comprise a one revolution clutch on shaft 210 as indicated by base 218 and cam 219, a one revolution clutch on shaft 217 as indicated by base 221 and cam 222 and king pin sensing fingers 223. The one revolution clutch on shaft 210 serves to interrupt the drive between pulley 212 and roller 201 and the one revolution clutch on shaft 217 serves to interrupt the drive between pulley 216 and roller 203. King pin sensing fingers 223 are pivotally mounted on shaft 224 which is supported by a bracket 225 which in turn is supported by framing member 205. Sensing fingers 223 extend through slots provided in framing member 205 on each side of belts 198 inside of rails 207 and 208 in a position to be contacted by king pins Pk traveling on the conveyor. An L-shapecl cam engaging lever 226 pivoted at 227 to bracket 228 is provided to engage cam 219. A similar L-shaped cam engaging lever 229 pivoted at 231 to bracket 232 is provided to engage cam 222.

Cam engaging lever 226 is actuated by rod 233 which passes through a hole provided in the free end of lever 226. Rod 233 is provided with a fixed washer 234 adapted to engage lever 236 on one side and with a light coil spring 235 retained by washer 236 adapted to engage the other side of lever 226, and when compressed to return lever 226 to a cam engaging position. The other end of rod 233 is pivotally attached at 237 to a mid portion of the upper end of crank arm 238 which in turn is pivotally mounted at 239 on bracket 232. Length adjusting means 241 are provided for rod 233.

To the lower end of crank arm 238 is pivotally attached at 242 a shaft 243 which passes through a hole in one arm of L-shaped lever 244 which is pivotally mounted at 245 on bracket 232 in such a position that. the end of the other arm of lever 244 interacts with the lever of the free arm of L-shaped lever 229. A fixed washer 246 is provided on shaft 243 on one side of lever 24d and a light coil spring 247 held in place by washer 248 is provided on the other.

The upper end of crank arm 238 is pivotally engaged at 249 to one end of shaft 251. Shaft 251 is pivotally engaged at its other end at 252 to crank arm 253 which is mounted in an upwardly extending position on shaft 224. Adjusting means 254; are provided in shaft 251 to adjust its length. A light coil spring 255 is attached be tween pivot 252 at some convenient position below to keep the linkage under a slight degree of tension. A second crank arm 256 is attached to shaft 224 in a downward position. Crank arm 256 is adapted to be contacted by knob 257 mounted on the side of chain 258 as knob 257 passes around the upper side of sprocket 259. The other end of chain 258 passes around sprocket 261 which is mounted on shaft 262. A second sprocket 263 mounted on shaft 262 is positioned to engage rack 264 of pinsetting mechanism L and to be driven by the 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC BOWLING PINSETTING MACHINE HAVING MEANS INCLUDING A BOWLING PIN ELEVATOR FOR SEQUENTIALLY RAISING HORIZONTALLY ORIENTED BOWLING PINS FROM A LOWER LEVEL TO A HIGHER LEVEL MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ELEVATOR FOR LODGING SAID PINS THEREFROM AT SAID HIGHER LEVEL, AND MEANS INCLUDING A SLIDE FOR RECEIVING SAID DISLODGED PINS; MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ELEVATOR FOR ORIENTING BOWLING PINS OF THE TYPE HAVING A RELATIVELY THICK BODY AND A RELATIVELY THIN NECK, AND FOR INSURING THAT SUCH PINS ENTER SAID SLIDE WITH THEIR BASE PORTION FIRST WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF PIVOTED ARMS EACH ADAPTED TO MOVE BETWEEN AN UPSTANDING POSITION WHERE SAID ARM IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE NECK OF A PIN AFTER SAID PIN HAS BEEN DISLODGE FROM SAID ELEVATOR, AND BEFORE SAID PIN HAS REACHED SAID SLIDE, AND A LOWERED POSITION WHERE SAID ARM IS OUT OF THE PATH OF SAID PIN, LINK MEANS CONNECTING SAID ARMS WHEREBY WHEN ONE OF SAID ARMS IS IN THE UPSTANDING POSITION THE OTHER OF SAID ARMS IS IN THE LOWERED POSITION, AND PIN SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE PASSAGE OF THE PIN ON SAID ELEVATOR FOR DETECTING THE NECK PORTION OF THE PIN AND ERECTING THE CORRESPONDING ARM. 